Large Teddy Bears Make the Perfect Gift

By Annie Jordens

Who wouldn't want to receive a big, fluffy stuffed bear from someone special? If you don't want one then I would probably say that you're missing out on some serious enjoyment. Every young girl (and big girls too) wants to receive a teddy bear of her own on special occasions like birthdays or Valentine's Day. The cuteness and comfort that these furry bears bring gives a feeling of joy and happiness that money can't buy. Large teddy bears are extra special simply because of their size.

Let's talk about history for just a moment. The original stuffed bear was invented in Germany and later got its name from the late United States president, Teddy Roosevelt. It became popular in the early 1900s where every kid in town wanted to own one for themselves. And even now, teddy bears are still popular and continue to sell like hotcakes. Teddy became every kid's companion and best friend. As the years go by, many of these kids become adults who still adore their first stuffed bear.

Even though there are lots of toys invented each and every year, the presence of these furry bears still remains. They still capture the hearts of young children. Even though children seem to prefer video games these days, the majority of them still want a bear.

One of the reasons you can rely on the lovable teddy bear to be the perfect gift is because it satisfies both the giver and the recipient. In fact, there couldn't be an easier gift to buy. You know it's going to be appreciated and likely kept on display in a prominent place by its new owner. But there is one problem - it may be difficult to choose which one you want to give!

Although the bears come from a variety of makers, you really can't go wrong and there are options at just about any price point. Even the bigger sizes are quite affordable although you can certainly spend a lot of money if you want to. But rest assured, there are stuffed bears to meet every budget and all of them are completely lovable.

So, whether it's a get well wish, birthday greeting, holiday or just because, there's not a girl in the world who won't love getting a teddy bear as a gift. And when you go with large teddy bears in particular, your gift demands attention and will not be forgotten.

Still not convinced that large teddy bears make the perfect gifts? Give it a try and see what happens. I'll bet the lovable, huggable teddy bear becomes your favorite stuffed animal too! Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Annie_Jordens

Learning to See by Traveling with a Teddy Bear By Brook Noel

"We come to love not by finding a perfect person, but by learning to see an imperfect person perfectly"

Sam Keen

This week, I had the pleasure of going to Knoxville to film two segments with the NBC station. One segment included my daughter. We had one long 9-hour-day of travel, then a day of filming, and then a day of travel to return home. She held up like a trooper, constantly assisting me in every way she could.

Of course, as all travel with children includes, there was a challenge or two. First, her last molar decided to come loose. In one hand I held my notes and in the other I held a tube of Orajel. It was always at the most opportune times that the pain would come--while juggling four bags through security, five seconds prior to going live on television--you mothers know how this works. (And for the non-moms reading - the moral and message of this column applies to you so keep reading!)

The last challenge of the trip came the day we left. We had purchased a teddy bear on the way down and Sammy deemed it the most special bear she had ever had. Every night she tucked it in, complete with back rub. She searched a name database on the internet and the bear was named Max Cuddles Arto Bongo Whispers.

When I went to pack, I couldn't put Max Cuddles Arto Bongo Whispers in a suitcase as he might suffocate. So we left him on the chair, safely tucked in a blanky as I proceeded to pack our bags. You can probably guess what happened next. We arrived at the airport 60 minutes prior to our departure, returned the rental car, checked in, only to realize Max Cuddles Arto Bongo Whispers was not with us.

My daughter who had traveled well up to that point, just about broke down. A companion traveling with us pointed out that worst case we would be passing the same store on the way back. Needles to say, my daughter looked at me in horror.

Thinking quickly, I called the hotel to see if the housekeeper could locate the bear. In five minutes the front desk called me back assuring me that the housekeeper had looked under the bed and in the blankets and there was no bear. I disputed this finding, explaining that we had just left, and the bear was definitely there. The woman at the front desk said she would go look and call me back. In another 5 minutes my cell rang. She had found Max Cuddles Arto Bongo Whispers. I asked her to call a cab and have the bear raced to our airline terminal. We were now about 45 minutes away from our departure time, had not yet gone through security, and the hotel was 20 minutes away.

As our flight drew nearer, our travel companion urged me and Sammy to go through security saying she would wait for the bear and if someone was going to miss a flight at least Sammy and I would travel together. Within minutes of that conversation, a large mini-van cab arrived with Max Cuddles Arto Bongo Whispers in the passenger seat. (I imagine he had fun telling people about his interesting passenger of the day!)

We raced through security (with only one stop for Orajel) and made it to our gate just as they were doing the final boarding call.

Later that day, my travel companion re-hashed the morning. She is a dear friend who has known me for many years--and also knows my weaknesses well. One of my weaknesses has always been patience. She paid me a sincere compliment on the patience I had developed during my 10 years so far as a mother. I explained that you get a special gene for that at some point during pregnancy.

As I thought back about the adventure of traveling teddy this morning, I realized why the story is so special to me, and it really doesn't have anything to do with patience or motherhood.

What happened when Max Cuddles Arto Bongo Whispers was lost, was that a 10 year old saw this as a tragedy. While you and I know, it was simply a stuffed bear that will likely end up ragged and forgotten in a toy chest within a few years, in that moment Sammy saw the event much differently.

Instead of seeing it through my 31-year-old eyes, and choosing Fed-Ex service or replacing the bear, I saw it through her eyes. And then I used the resources I had to help.

We all come to our lives with our set of experiences and they become a lens through which we see our daily activities. Living fully involves removing our "lenses" and trying on the lenses of those whom we care for. Doing this is an exercise in self-growth, in pushing our comfort zone, in seeing past the writing on the wall to a new world from a different vantage point. Then we can combine our resources with those whom we care for, stretch our thinking, stretch our vision, and truly find the magic that lies within a moment.

Your Challenge:

This week make a focused effort to see things from another person's perspective. This skill takes practice but it is one that can truly enrich your life. Each day, try to see something fresh from the eyes of another and see what gifts it will bring to you.

p.s. And of course, I am sending a thank you to the wonderful woman at the hotel who helped us. I took a photo of Sammy with Max Cuddles Arto Bongo Whispers and had her draw a picture to go with it.

For this kind woman who answered the phone also chose to see this event through the eyes of a 10-year-old.

The Change Your Life Challenge http://www.changeyourlifechallenge.com Take control of your home, finances, relationships, clutter, time-managmenet and more with this 70 Day Program. Sign up for the free Challenge Weekly Newsletter and the motivational daily Good Morning. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Brook_Noel

Teddy Bears: A History by Samantha Forest

One of the most recognizable stuffed toys is a teddy bear. Teddy bears are considered classics, enduring, and popular for the purpose of comforting children. It is often a safe option as a gift philippines for any small child. One might wonder how these irresistibly cuddly toys came about.

Although it feels like they have been around forever, they were only conceptualized in 1902. The 26th president of the United States, Theodore 'Teddy' Roosevelt went on a hunting trip in November 14, 1902 in Mississippi while settling a border dispute between Mississippi and Louisiana. During the hunt, Roosevelt and his group chanced upon a young bear. The men in Roosevelt's group suggested that he shoot the bear but he refused, saying it is unsportsmanlike.

The incident inspired Clifford Berryman to draw a political cartoon illustrating the event. Morris Michtom was inspired by the cartoon to make a stuffed toy bear and called it teddy bear. The teddy bear craze grew such that children and even societal ladies carried their teddy bears everywhere. President Roosevelt also used the teddy bear in his re-election bid and won.

In a few years, the teddy bear craze grew even more. Many companies started manufacturing different kinds of teddy bears. It also became a popular gift philippines item. The teddy bear spread throughout the world, to Europe, Australia, and Asia.

The fondness for teddy bears dissipated at the start of World War II. However, the teddy bear came back with the declaration of British actor Peter Bull of his love for teddy bears. Later on, Beverly Port, an American dollmaker, started teddy bear artistry. The toy is not just a toy anymore that can be used as a gift philippines but has grown to be an adult collectible and antique collection. Many old, manufactured teddy bears began showing up in antique doll and toy auctions and they began winning higher and higher bids. A bear named "Teddy Girl" by Steiff sold for a record of $176,000 at Christie's auction house in 1994.

These teddy bears will still be staples in any kid's room for a long time. It's not surprising with its gift of unconditional acceptance, love, and reassurance.

About the Author

Samantha Forest is an author from Houston Texas who writes articles that provides ideas on how people do their shopping for flowers and gifts. offering insights about the perfect kind of gift or flower for the perfect occasion.

The Steiff Teddy Bear Story By Sharon Lauer

In 1847 in a small town in Giengen, Germany a baby girl was born. She was named Margaret Steiff. Her childhood vigor was cut short when she contracted polio at the age of 2. Although confined to a wheelchair for the rest of her life, she became a model for strength and determination.

Margaret excelled in sewing and needlework and became the proud owner of the first sewing machine in Geingen. In 1879, she started her dressmaking business. Her dresses, coats and other clothing products were quickly in demand. In December of that year she came across a pattern for a toy elephant in a magazine. She made these as gifts for her family and close friends. Margaret used her expertise to develop other animal patterns and 1883 added them to her price list as a range of felt items. Her business continued to grow and in 1892 she began making soft filled bears, which would later be referred to as Teddy Bears. These bears resembled real bears, posing on all four paws with humped backs.

Richard Steiff, Margaret's nephew, helped his aunt with design and production of her teddy bears and soft filled animals. An avid art student, he was a regular visitor of the Stuttgart Zoo where he got ideas for animal designs. While touring America, Richard was inspired for a new design during a circus performance. The dancing bears gave him the idea of designing a toy bear which stood upright and was jointed, similar to how dolls were made.

By 1902 the inspiration was reality and Margaret was producing a jointed soft filled teddy bear with mohair plush fur and glass eyes. They were the first jointed teddy bears produced.

In 1903 Richard displayed the new bears at the Leipzig Toy Fair. Unfortunately they didn't generate much interest in the Europeans. As Richard was packing up his display at the end of the fair, American Hermann Berg chanced by his booth. Berg was a buyer for the New York firm Geo Borgfeldt and Company. At about this time in America the story of Theodore Roosevelt's 'Teddy's Bear' was becoming popular. Berg placed an order for 3,000 bears.

By 1904 the Steiff teddy bear had become an American success. They were awarded various accolades including the prestigious Grand Prix award. In total 12,000 bears were sold by the end of 1904 with the trademark button in the left ear.

Publicity from Roosevelt's adventure helped place teddy bears in the hearts of Americans where they remain today. The world record price for an antique bear was made at a December 1994 auction. The winning bid was $176,000.00 for a 1905 Steiff bear. Steiff teddy bears continue to leave their marks today in the hearts of collectors and teddy bear lovers alike.

Sharon Lauer is a free lance writer and the marketing director forhttp://www.everyoccasiongiftshop.com and http://www.simplythebestbaskets.com. She regularly writes articles on various aspects of gifts and gift giving. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Sharon_Lauer

Who is Teddy Bear? By Tina Nyary

There is nothing like a Teddy Bear!

Since his existence, he has brought pleasure, serenity, and comfort to children and people of all ages worldwide. A Teddy Bear is very special, because he is more than a toy - he is a companion. He has wonderful qualities, he consoles when needed, he has compassion when required, and he knows everything about us including our deepest thoughts. He is our most intimate friend! Did you ever feel like that about your Teddy Bear? I am sure you did, we all did! How can a stuffed bear, although cute and cuddly bring so much pleasure and happiness to our lives? Let's look at some of Teddy's origins.

It is well known that the name "Teddy" originates from Theodore Roosevelt, President of the United States of America 1901-1909, who was referred to as Teddy by the public. There are numerous stories of how the Teddy Bear received the President's name. One story refers to a Mississippi bear-hunting trip where villagers wishing to please the President captured a bear for him to shoot, however, the President flatly refused. He drew a line, as this was not fair hunting sportsmanship. This encounter became a famous cartoon story by Clifford Berryman under the title of "Drawing the Line in Mississippi." The cartoon caught very wide attention, which eventually led to the Teddy Bear and its name. Another story suggests that the staff of Hotel Colorado wanted to cheer-up President Roosevelt during a hunting trip with a gift. They presented him with a small stuffed bear made by the housekeeping employees. His daughter, Alice, liked the bear and gave it the name Teddy.

Based on my findings, it seems that Teddy was born around 1902, but this was not just a US birth. Coincidentally, at the Steiff Company in Giengen an der Brenz, Baden Württemberg in Germany, the owner Margarete Steiff, produced stuffed animal toys. Her nephew Richard Steiff was an artist who drew animal pictures for the stuffed animal toy production of the company. In 1902, Richard visited the Stuttgart Zoo and made a sketch of a bear cub. The company started production of his design and the German (Teddy) bear was born. How wonderful sometimes coincidences work. Was it destiny to remember internationally a great President throughout the ages with this divine toy? In 1903, at the Leipzig Toy Fair Steiff sold 3000 bears to an American toy merchant and by 1907 the Steiff Company sold 974,000 bears. Whatever the stories are, the fact remains that the Teddy Bear became a famous and beloved toy ever since the time of President Theodore Roosevelt. A nice long stretch!

The bear market is still going strong to this day. Teddy Bears or stuffed bears in general are here to stay for generations to come. It is interesting to know that in some families Teddy Bears have become heirloom pieces. Did you know that bear collectors are called arctophiles? The word derives from the Greek language "arcto" meaning bear and "philos" meaning lover. Bears are not just a toy for children, bears are also used as mascots by many organizations or as corporate gifts and uncountable other special uses. There are also Teddy Bear Clubs and some organizations even have annual conventions to celebrate these lovable keepsakes.

Teddy Bear has reached its 106th Birthday, that is a good old ripe age, but we all know he will live forever.

Tina Nyary, researched a beloved stuffed animal toy, the Teddy Bear. Stuffed teddy bears are without a doubt one of the most adored stuffed animal toys. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Tina_Nyary

Breeding Teddy Bear Hamster For Beginners by Andrew Martin Jr.

It can be a truly wonderful experience to breed teddy bear hamsters; You need to think about a number of things before you decide to breed your hamsters:

Who are you going to sell your baby hamsters to? After only 20 - 25 days, baby hamsters can be weaned. They can begin to breed once they reach 45 days old. Once the pups are born, there is not much time before you need to find them homes. You need to know long before the time comes, where you are going to send your baby hamsters. Do not just set the babies free. They will be eaten, or they will starve. In the unlikely event that they survive, they will start to breed and will become a pest. They will have to go to their new homes sometime between 4 - 7 weeks old.

Do you have the required supplies as well as enough space to breed hamsters? You will have to have enough space and living area. At least four housing facilities are needed: one for males, one for females, one for a quarantine tank, and one for a birthing house.

Are you ready to commit to all the work needed for hamster breeding? You need to make a considerable commitment to be able to successfully breed hamsters. You need to keep the cages very clean. Your will have more expenses because your will need more bedding, more food, and more supplies overall. You also need to remember the cages, the toys, exercise wheels, and so on. Before you decide on breeding your hamsters, be sure that you are willing and able to invest in those resources.

Once you have made the decision to breed your hamsters, the following steps will get you off to a great start:

1. Purchase your hamsters from a good breeder. Find a breeder who keeps their hamsters areas clean, and provide them with enough space to live.

2. Before completing the sale, make sure to observe the hamster you are interested in closely. Is the hamster friendly? Calm? Tame? Curious? Do not pick a hamster who seem timid or one that seem overly aggressive. Temperament is hereditary, so you wouldn't want to breed these hamsters. Instead you want a hamster that is tame. Ideally, you should try to find a breeder who handles their hamsters often and even tames them before they are sold. You will probably want to get your hamsters for breeding from a good breeder. This is because the local pet store does not usually handle their hamsters often enough.

3. Keep the male hamsters separate from the female hamster until you are ready to breed them. Females will often abuse their male partners if they are not yet ready for mating. Every four days or so, a female hamster becomes fertile. You will know when a female hamster is fertile by the way she freezes her tail up in the air when a male hamster is around.

4. Be sure to keep a pregnant or nursing hamster away from any noise. Do not handle them too often. Remember not to touch any of the babies until they are weaned. Separate the males and females soon after weaning to prevent them from breeding.

About the Author

Andrew Martin Jr. is a pet enthusiast and publisher. He owns and maintains Hamster Care Answers, a resource forhamster breeding and hamster care.

Different Ways To Display Your Teddy Bears by Jael Soutter

Teddy bears are now in museums due to their history of how they came about. If you love teddy bears or know someone that does try heading out to one of these museums. The world's very first Teddy Bear Museum was in Petersfield, Hampshire, England back in 1984. Judy Sparrow opened it up with her own collection of teddy bears.

The Dorset Teddy Bear Museum in Dorset is opened 7 days a week beginning at 9:30 a.m. This museum has teddy bears around every corner, from the very old to the latest and greatest. Look back through time as you watch your favorite fictional bears come to life right before your eyes. Watch out as you turn the corner, there are even life sized teddy bears to keep you company. You can even walk into the house of "Mr. Edward" bear and sit with his family. The gift shop has everything you could possibly want from character teddy bears to one of a kind.

England wasn't the only place in the world that has teddy bear museums, but that is where the first museum popped up. Jeju Teddy Bear Museum opened its doors in 2001, this place has all types of different teddy bears inside and all types of information on them. There's a café for those parents that need a drink while carting their children around, two galleries, beautiful gardens and a gift shop.

The Dancing Bear Folk Center is the largest teddy bears museum in the western United States. It is located in Thermopolis, Wyoming and is ready for you to come and explore its teddy bears. If you ever get out to Vermont don't forget to stop at the Vermont Teddy Bear Company. They've got so many teddy bears you won't want to go home without one. Take a tour of the factory while you're there too.

There is also the Teddy Bear House Bed and Breakfast in Anchorage, Alaska where teddy bears are displayed in every room of the house. The cost is $45 a night per person and that includes breakfast. Try making some very bearable memories and start seeking out those teddy bears.

About the Author

Learn about endangered bears and pictures of bears at the About Animals site.